[meteorite-list] Tough question for collectors

[User5013]

Hi,

I'm an amateur jeweler who makes awards & medallions for a couple clubs I belong to.  I've been asked to make several medallions for an award called a "Guide Star."

Previously, I have made them of silver, Sterling, even gold.  I now have a client who wants to sponsor four medallions -- and wants to make them very special.  Since the award is a Guide Star, he thinks it would be neat to make this set of four medallions out of a true star -- a meteorite.

Sounds like a cool idea to me, but I have no real knowledge of the raw material.  While searching the web, I've discovered great passion for collecting that I was completely unaware of.  Such incredible passion, that I'm now very unsure of whether to proceed with the project.

I'm certain that recasting the iron-nickel alloy would destroy the Widmanstaetten figures which are so prized among collectors.  Yet, I cannot think of another process by which I would make the medallions.  (I am, after all, only an amateur.)

Before I go any further with this project, I'm asking your people for information.  I seek opinions from collectors (pro, con, philosophy).  I also seek functional information (melting temperature and density comes to mind).  A medallion of silver weighs 4 ounces, so how much meteorite . . .?

Anything you could provide would be most helpful before I continue.  Please no flame-ing, yet.

Thank you,
Jay Toser
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
135 Lazy Lake Dr.
Fall River  WI  53932